The sternum, also known as the breastbone, is an important part of the body. It protects the major blood vessels, heart, and lungs. It is a flat bone located at the center of the chest. Needless to say, along with being a bone that protects vital organs, any injury to it causes immense pain as well as makes other organs vulnerable. Often, injury to the sternum is due to impact such as in a car accident. In such a scenario, it is recommended to work with personal injury attorney to get you the compensation you deserve. 

Common causes of fractured sternum

  1. As mentioned above, car accidents or accidents involving any other motor vehicle are the leading cause of fractured sternum. It is so because most often in an auto accident one tends to fall forward and hit their chest on the glove box or dashboard. 
  2. One can also fracture their sternum as a result of a slip and fall, for example, slipping on a wet floor or tripping on a rope in a mall or shop. 

Consequences of a fractured sternum 

Along with being extremely painful, in a situation where one has fractured their sternum, it is possible that there might be injury to the chest or lungs, making matters complicated. It is essential that a thorough medical examination is done to ensure proper treatment is prescribed. 

Recovery from a fractured sternum

The recovery period for a fractured sternum is long term and expensive. It can also hinder some day-to-day activities as well as one’s professional and personal life. 

Compensation in case of a fractured sternum

If the injury to the sternum is caused due to an accident, that is, as a result of someone’s negligence, the injured party is entitled to a compensation. It is important to work with a top injury attorney to get a fair settlement. 

With respect to the damages, the personal injury attorney will compile economic, non-economic, and punitive damages caused due to the injury in order to arrive at a fair compensation. Some common economic damages are medical expenses, lost wages, damage to the vehicle (in case of a motor vehicle accident), etc. On the other, non-economic damages include loss to quality of life, psychological trauma, pain and suffering, etc. Lastly, punitive damages are meant to punish the at-fault party so as to set an important example. This type of damage often applies in cases where the at-fault party is responsible for extremely reckless and negligent behavior for example driving under influence of alcohol or drugs.

Average settlement for a fractured sternum 

As such, arriving at an average settlement is challenging, however, it is important to note that in most cases the at-fault party’s insurer might try to give a lowball offer. Hence, it is pertinent that one arrives at the settlement keeping the abovementioned damages in mind and seek help of a personal injury attorney. 

If you or someone you know has suffered a fractured sternum due to someone’s negligence, you need the top injury lawyers, contact Siler & Ingber today. Call us on 1-877-529-4343 or complete our online form on this page to schedule a case evaluation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys. Our consultation is free and we do not charge a fee unless we win your case. 

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